News from the New Stadium

League leaders Prestatyn Town proved too difficult a task for Campbell Harrison’s Holyhead Hotspur side at Bastion Gardens which keeps the Holy Islanders in the lower reaches of the Huws Gray Alliance.

The first half saw the hosts take control from the outset and their 2 - 0 advantage at the break could have been much worse for the visitors. However whatever the manager said to the Hotspur players at the interval certainly had an effect producing a far more competitive performance making the hosts work hard to preserve their lead and it was not until the 90th minute that they made the game safe, while right in the last throes of added time former Hotspur keeper Carl Jones gifted Asa Thomas a consolation goal but the damage had been done in the opening half.

Jordan Davies had given Prestatyn (who have until Tuesday to save their very existence) the lead rifling the ball into the far corner beyond keeper Paul Pritchard on 28 while Davies converted a spot kick on 40 to give the home side a two goal margin. Hotspur competed well in the second period which had not been evident earlier with Prestatyn knowing they were in a game although failing to test their keeper unduly

Jordan Davies had given Prestatyn (who have until Tuesday to save their very existence) the lead rifling the ball into the far corner beyond keeper Paul Pritchard on 28 while Davies converted a spot kick on 40 to give the home side a two goal margin. Hotspur competed well in the second period which had not been evident earlier with Prestatyn knowing they were in a game although failing to test their keeper unduly aided by a well organized home rearguard. To add insult to injury Hotspur’s Kenleigh Owen suffered a ham string injury in the second stanza while influential central defender and captain Rhys Roberts had started a six match suspensions.

Holyead are due to return to Prestatyn again on the 3rd December in the 4th round of the Welsh Cup but before then they host tricky opponents in Gresford Athletic in a league match this coming Saturday kick off 2.30pm. Prestatyn were on the front foot from the start and Jordan Davies’s early shot was deflected for a corner while Reece Fairhurst put a free header wide of the post and Noah Hughes’s free kick went wide on 8. Two minutes later full back Jack Lewis hit a screamer just over as the Seasiders looked for the opening goal. Hotspur struggling to get into the game as former player Damien Ketley rounded his defender on the left finding Jack Kenney whose effort deflected for a corner. At last at the other end too few men forward after Kenleigh put a good cross into the box. On 19 Ketley’s goal bound shot was brilliantly tipped on to the bar and over by Paul Pritchard. However a trademark long throw by Keiron Hilditch on the left caused the home defence problems the ball eventually reaching Asa Thomas in a good position but his shot was beaten away. The away defence had to crack and on 28 Prestatyn went ahead. A ball into the box was cleared out to Jordan Davies who rifled hard and low into the bottom far corner from 15 yards. On 40 the leaders increased their lead when Jack Kenny through on goal was brought down and Davies drove past Pritchard into the same corner with the spot kick. (H/T 2 – 0).

Hotspur started brightly and Thomas was just off target on 47 but the slick hosts continued to press and Ketley shot just over, but on 62 Davies found Kenny one on one with keeper Pritchard but he overran the ball and the chance was gone. Nip and tuck now as the next goal deemed all important for either side but it was the Seasiders afternoon on 89 when after good linking up play Noah Edwards arced towards the away goalmouth and delivered low past Pritchard. On 90 + 3 Carl Jones the home keeper got caught out dallying with the ball and Asa Thomas took full advantage. However already done and dusted.